TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Maintaining High Scientific Quality at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories SN - DO - 10.17226/11009 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11009/maintaining-high-scientific-quality-at-los-alamos-and-lawrence-livermore-national-laboratories PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Policy for Science and Technology KW - Environment and Environmental Studies AB - In recent years, there has been concern about security and operations management at Los Alamos and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories (LANL and LLNL). As a result, Congress directed the Department of Energy (DOE) to hold open competitions for the management and operations (M&O) contracts for both LANL and LLNL. The quality of the scientific programs, however, did not appear to be a factor in that action, and the DOE's National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) wanted to ensure that the contract competitions preserve the high-quality science and engineering currently being performed at the labs. It asked the NRC to recommend how best the NNSA can create meaningful qualification and selection discriminators to help ensure world-class scientific quality is maintained in programs and activities at LANL and LLNL. This report presents those recommendations along with other important factors that should be considered in developing the request for proposals for the upcoming contract competition. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Statistical Analysis of Massive Data Streams: Proceedings of a Workshop DO - 10.17226/11098 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11098/statistical-analysis-of-massive-data-streams-proceedings-of-a-workshop PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Computers and Information Technology KW - Math, Chemistry, and Physics KW - Surveys and Statistics AB - Massive data streams, large quantities of data that arrive continuously, are becoming increasingly commonplace in many areas of science and technology. Consequently development of analytical methods for such streams is of growing importance. To address this issue, the National Security Agency asked the NRC to hold a workshop to explore methods for analysis of streams of data so as to stimulate progress in the field. This report presents the results of that workshop. It provides presentations that focused on five different research areas where massive data streams are present: atmospheric and meteorological data; high-energy physics; integrated data systems; network traffic; and mining commercial data streams. The goals of the report are to improve communication among researchers in the field and to increase relevant statistical science activity. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Radio Frequency Identification Technologies: A Workshop Summary SN - DO - 10.17226/11189 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11189/radio-frequency-identification-technologies-a-workshop-summary PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Engineering and Technology KW - Transportation and Infrastructure AB - Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology is gaining rapid acceptance as a means to track a wide array of manufactured objects. Currently, RFID technologies have shown promise in transportation (e.g., smart fare cards) and commerce (e.g., inventory control) for a variety of uses and are likely to find many new applications in both military and civilian areas if and when current technical issues are resolved. There are a number of policy concerns (e.g., privacy), however, that will become more crucial as the technology spreads. This report presents a summary of a workshop, held by the NRC at the request of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, to explore many of the key technical and policy issues. Several important themes that are likely to govern expansion of RFID technology emerged from the workshop and are discussed. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Steps to Facilitate Principal-Investigator-Led Earth Science Missions SN - DO - 10.17226/10949 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10949/steps-to-facilitate-principal-investigator-led-earth-science-missions PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Earth Sciences KW - Space and Aeronautics AB - Principal-investigator (PI) Earth science missions are small, focused science projects involving relatively small spacecraft. The selected PI is responsible for the scientific and programmatic success of the entire project. A particular objective of PI-led missions has been to help develop university-based research capacity. Such missions, however, pose significant challenges that are beyond the capabilities of most universities to manage. To help NASA’s Office of Earth Science determine how best to address these, the NRC carried out an assessment of key issues relevant to the success of university-based PI-led Earth observation missions. This report presents the result of that study. In particular, the report provides an analysis of opportunities to enhance such missions and recommendations about whether and, if so, how they should be used to build university-based research capabilities. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Computer Science: Reflections on the Field, Reflections from the Field SN - DO - 10.17226/11106 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11106/computer-science-reflections-on-the-field-reflections-from-the-field PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Computers and Information Technology KW - Education AB - Computer Science: Reflections on the Field, Reflections from the Field provides a concise characterization of key ideas that lie at the core of computer science (CS) research. The book offers a description of CS research recognizing the richness and diversity of the field. It brings together two dozen essays on diverse aspects of CS research, their motivation and results. By describing in accessible form computer science’s intellectual character, and by conveying a sense of its vibrancy through a set of examples, the book aims to prepare readers for what the future might hold and help to inspire CS researchers in its creation. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Plasma Physics of the Local Cosmos SN - DO - 10.17226/10993 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10993/plasma-physics-of-the-local-cosmos PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Math, Chemistry, and Physics KW - Space and Aeronautics AB - Solar and space physics is the study of solar system phenomena that occur in the plasma state. Examples include sunspots, the solar wind, planetary magnetospheres, radiation belts, and the aurora. While each is a distinct phenomenon, there are commonalities among them. To help define and systematize these universal aspects of the field of space physics, the National Research Council was asked by NASA’s Office of Space Science to provide a scientific assessment and strategy for the study of magnetized plasmas in the solar system. This report presents that assessment. It covers a number of important research goals for solar and space physics. The report is complementary to the NRC report, The Sun to the Earth—and Beyond: A Decadal Research Strategy for Solar and Space Physics, which presents priorities and strategies for future program activities. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Systems Integration for Project Constellation: Letter Report DO - 10.17226/11104 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11104/systems-integration-for-project-constellation-letter-report PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Space and Aeronautics AB - With the announcement of the Vision for U.S. Space Exploration, NASA has formed a new Exploration Systems Enterprise charged with development of systems to be used in the exploration of the moon, Mars, and other destinations. A key component of that enterprise is Project Constellation which is responsible for all of the systems necessary for human exploration. It is essential that those systems be integrated effectively for the mission to succeed. To assist with this objective, NASA asked the NRC to assess the relative merits of seven approaches for systems integration. This letter report presents this assessment. It provides a list of 21 criteria for judging the capability of each of the approaches to succeed in this complex integration task, and ratings of how well each can fulfill those criteria ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - New Directions in Manufacturing: Report of a Workshop SN - DO - 10.17226/11024 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11024/new-directions-in-manufacturing-report-of-a-workshop PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Industry and Labor KW - Engineering and Technology AB - The processes and techniques of manufacturing have changed substantially over the decades and that evolution continues today. In order to examine the potential impacts of these changes, the Department of Commerce asked the NRC to design a workshop to focus on issues central to the changing nature of manufacturing. The workshop brought together a number of experts to present papers about and to discuss the current state of manufacturing in the United States and the challenges it faces. This report presents the results of that workshop. Key challenges that emerged from the workshop and that are discussed include understanding manufacturing trends; manufacturing globalization; information technology opportunities; maintaining innovation; strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises; workforce education; and rising infrastructure costs. ER - TY - BOOK TI - Space Studies Board Annual Report 2003 DO - 10.17226/10960 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10960/space-studies-board-annual-report-2003 PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Effects of Degraded Agent and Munitions Anomalies on Chemical Stockpile Disposal Operations SN - DO - 10.17226/10910 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10910/effects-of-degraded-agent-and-munitions-anomalies-on-chemical-stockpile-disposal-operations PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Environment and Environmental Studies AB - The U.S. Army is in the process of destroying its entire stock of chemical weapons. To help with stockpile disposal, the Army’s Chemical Stockpile Disposal Program (CSDP), in 1987, asked the National Research Council (NRC) for scientific and technical advice. This report is one in a series of such prepared by the NRC over the last 16 years in response to that request. It presents an examination of the effect of leaking munitions (leakers) and other anomalies in the stored stockpile on the operation of the chemical agent disposal facilities. The report presents a discussion of potential causes of these anomalies, leaker tracking and analysis issues, risk implications of anomalies, and recommendations for monitoring and containing these anomalies during the remaining life of the stockpile. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Solar and Space Physics and Its Role in Space Exploration SN - DO - 10.17226/11103 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11103/solar-and-space-physics-and-its-role-in-space-exploration PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Space and Aeronautics AB - In February 2004, the President announced a new goal for NASA; to use humans and robots together to explore the Moon, Mars, and beyond. In response to this initiative, NASA has adopted new exploration goals that depend, in part, on solar physics research. These actions raised questions about how the research agenda recommended by the NRC in its 2002 report, The Sun to the Earth and Beyond, which did not reflect the new exploration goals, would be affected. As a result, NASA requested the NRC to review the role solar and space physics should play in support of the new goals. This report presents the results of that review. It considers solar and space physics both as aspects of scientific exploration and in support of enabling future exploration of the solar system. The report provides a series of recommendations about NASA's Sun-Earth Connections program to enable it to meet both of those goals. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Understanding the Sun and Solar System Plasmas: Future Directions in Solar and Space Physics DO - 10.17226/11188 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11188/understanding-the-sun-and-solar-system-plasmas-future-directions-in PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Space and Aeronautics ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Meeting the Energy Needs of Future Warriors SN - DO - 10.17226/11065 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11065/meeting-the-energy-needs-of-future-warriors PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Conflict and Security Issues KW - Transportation and Infrastructure AB - The central characteristic of the evolution of the combat soldier in recent years is an increasingly sophisticated array of sensing, communications, and related electronics for use in battlefield situations. The most critical factor for maintaining this evolution will be the development of power supply systems capable of operating those electronics effectively for missions up to 72 hours long. To address the challenge, it is important that new approaches be sought on how to integrate and power these electronics. To assist in addressing this problem, the Army requested the National Research Council to review the state of the art and to recommend technologies that will support the rapid development of effective power systems for the future warrior. This report presents the results of that review. It provides an assessment of various technology options for different power level requirements, power system design, and soldier energy sinks. The report also describes future design concepts, focusing on low-power systems. Recommendations for technology development and system design are presented. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - Radford Byerly, Jr. A2 - Richard B. Leshner A2 - Pamela L. Whitney TI - Issues and Opportunities Regarding the U.S. Space Program: A Summary Report of a Workshop on National Space Policy SN - DO - 10.17226/10899 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10899/issues-and-opportunities-regarding-the-us-space-program-a-summary PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Space and Aeronautics AB - Ever since the completion of the Apollo program, there has been a lack of consensus about the future of human spaceflight. The Columbia tragedy in February 2003 rekindled public debate about this question. In November 2003, the Space Studies Board and the Aeronautics and Space Engineering Board organized a workshop to explore aspects of the question, what should be the principal purpose, goals, and priorities of the U.S. civil space program? This report presents a factual summary of that workshop, which identified past lessons learned and guiding principles for the future of the civil space program. Seven broad themes emerged from the workshop, and these themes are highlighted in the report. The report also presents discussions of strategies for the human spaceflight program and guiding principles of and boundary conditions for a 21st century space policy. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Burning Plasma: Bringing a Star to Earth SN - DO - 10.17226/10816 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10816/burning-plasma-bringing-a-star-to-earth PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Math, Chemistry, and Physics KW - Space and Aeronautics AB - Significant advances have been made in fusion science, and a point has been reached when we need to decide if the United States is ready to begin a burning plasma experiment. A burning plasma—in which at least 50 percent of the energy to drive the fusion reaction is generated internally—is an essential step to reach the goal of fusion power generation. The Burning Plasma Assessment Committee was formed to provide advice on this decision. The committee concluded that there is high confidence in the readiness to proceed with the burning plasma step. The International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER), with the United States as a significant partner, was the best choice. Once a commitment to ITER is made, fulfilling it should become the highest priority of the U.S. fusion research program. A funding trajectory is required that both captures the benefits of joining ITER and retains a strong scientific focus on the long-range goals of the program. Addition of the ITER project will require that the content, scope, and level of U.S. fusion activity be defined by program balancing through a priority-setting process initiated by the Office of Fusion Energy Science. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Investments in Federal Facilities: Asset Management Strategies for the 21st Century SN - DO - 10.17226/11012 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11012/investments-in-federal-facilities-asset-management-strategies-for-the-21st PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Engineering and Technology AB - Facilities now owned by the Federal Government are valued at over $300 billion. It also spends over $25 billion per year for acquisition, renovation, and upkeep. Despite the size of these sums, there is a growing litany of problems with federal facilities that continues to put a drain on the federal budget and compromise the effectiveness of federal services. To examine ways to address these problems, the sponsoring agencies of the Federal Facilities Council (FFC) asked the National Research Council (NRC) to develop guidelines for making improved decisions about investment in and renewal, maintenance, and replacement of federal facilities. This report provides the result of that assessment. It presents a review of both public and private practices used to support such decision making and identifies appropriate objectives, practices, and performance measures. The report presents a series of recommendations designed to assist federal agencies and departments improve management of and investment decision making for their facilities. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council A2 - Bonnie A. Scarborough TI - Proceedings from the Workshop on Science-Based Assessment: Accelerating Product Development of Combination Medical Devices DO - 10.17226/11035 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11035/proceedings-from-the-workshop-on-science-based-assessment-accelerating-product PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Health and Medicine AB - The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established testing centers for assessment of three categories of medical products; devices, biologics, and drugs. Increasingly, however, medical products are appearing that are combinations of more than one of those categories. The FDA is just beginning to develop procedures for evaluating such combination products, which pose new challenges for assessing efficacy and safety. The Roundtable on Biomedical Engineering Materials and Applications (BEMA) is an NRC activity that brings together relevant parties to discuss R&D, applications, and regulation of biomedical materials and devices. In 2003, BEMA held a workshop to discuss science-based assessment for evaluation of combination products. This report and accompanying CD present abstracts and viewgraphs of the talks given at that workshop. The workshop focused on three specific types of combination products: orthopedic repair using morphogenetic protein, drug-eluting stents, and cell-matrix cartilage implants. In addition, context-setting discussions of science-based assessment and experimental design were presented at the workshop. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - The Mathematical Sciences' Role in Homeland Security: Proceedings of a Workshop SN - DO - 10.17226/10940 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10940/the-mathematical-sciences-role-in-homeland-security-proceedings-of-a PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Computers and Information Technology KW - Math, Chemistry, and Physics KW - Surveys and Statistics AB - Mathematical sciences play a key role in many important areas of Homeland Security including data mining and image analysis and voice recognition for intelligence analysis, encryption and decryption for intelligence gathering and computer security, detection and epidemiology of bioterriost attacks to determine their scope, and data fusion to analyze information coming from simultaneously from several sources. This report presents the results of a workshop focusing on mathematical methods and techniques for addressing these areas. The goal of the workshop is to help mathematical scientists and policy makers understand the connections between mathematical sciences research and these homeland security applications. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Intelligent Sustainment and Renewal of Department of Energy Facilities and Infrastructure SN - DO - 10.17226/11173 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/11173/intelligent-sustainment-and-renewal-of-department-of-energy-facilities-and-infrastructure PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Engineering and Technology AB - The United States Department of Energy's (DOE) facilities stewardship is extremely important to the department's ability to achieve its mission of protecting national, energy, and economic security with advanced science and technology and ensuring environmental cleanup. Intelligent Sustainment and Renewal of Department of Energy Facilities and Infrastructure evaluates the steps the department is taking to improve its facilities and infrastructure management. This report develops best-practice techniques for DOE real property asset management and guidelines for deciding when to repair, renovate, or replace DOE buildings. ER - TY - BOOK AU - National Research Council TI - Evaluation of the National Aerospace Initiative SN - DO - 10.17226/10980 PY - 2004 UR - https://nap.nationalacademies.org/catalog/10980/evaluation-of-the-national-aerospace-initiative PB - The National Academies Press CY - Washington, DC LA - English KW - Space and Aeronautics KW - Conflict and Security Issues AB - The National Aerospace Initiative (NAI) was conceived as a joint effort between the Department of Defense (DOD) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to sustain the aerospace leadership of the United States through the acceleration of selected aerospace technologies: hypersonic flight, access to space, and space technologies. The Air Force became concerned about the NAI’s possible consequences on Air Force programs and budget if NAI program decisions differed from Air Force priorities. To examine this issue, it asked the NRC for an independent review of the NAI. This report presents the results of that assessment. It focuses on three questions asked by the Air Force: is NAI technically feasible in the time frame laid out; is it financially feasible over that period; and is it operationally relevant. ER -